My cat won't stop biting and attacking, please help me.

[Wildflowercottage]

We have a very handsome cat who we love very much, but the absolute bastard won't stop attacking us/biting us/swiping us. He's always done this and as a kitten, it was "cute" but now it hurts - he's 6 years old. I'm finding it pretty upsetting, to be honest.

I've spent so much time with him, I know his "warning" cues and I make sure to not touch him anywhere he doesn't like, to move away when he's getting aggravated etc. He is essentially my dictator.

My issue is that the majority of the time now, he's stopped giving any "cues". Some examples:

• He will come up to me and look for cuddles, he'll be purring and rubbing himself against me and I give him soft strokes still only sticking outside of the Danger Zone and he'll seem to be enjoying it (i.e still purring, tail not going mad, ears in normal position) and then all of a sudden he'll go for my head. No warning at all.

• I'll be standing somewhere, he'll come up to me whilst purring and rub himself along my legs. I won't move as I'm busy, and the next thing I know he's launched himself at my legs with his claws out and teeth sinking into me.

I'm super annoyed and upset about it and have no clue what to do. I don't want to just ignore him. I've tried saying "no" in a loud voice, I've tried walking away and giving him no attention, I tried using a spray water bottle (he opened his mouth to catch the water fgs), and I've tried clapping once loudly. Nothing.

ANY advice will be much appreciated, please!!

Stare him straight in his face and hiss, that might startle him.

Try hissing at him. I do this when my cat goes for me. Someone will almost certainly correct me but I’ve read that cats can’t see very well at close quarters so a hand might be threatening to him as he doesn’t connect it with you.

Have tried that before. He hissed louder and swiped at me :(

I did only try it just the once though and that was his reaction. Is it worth keeping it up?

Have a rolled up newspaper handy and when he starts attacking hit it very haed with your free hand. The noise will at least make him stop

There are many reasons. You need to figure out which one first.

Did you play with him as a kitten with hands and feet or distance play, eg toy on a stick or lazer? Many cats view a human as a play toy if they've had "rough" play.

You have figured out the danger zones but what about the length of time? Some cats can only cope with 2-3 strokes before kicking off. Maybe you are creating static in his fur (think supermarket trolley handles that can zap you)?

Sometimes being unsettled due to other cats being in their territory can cause redirected aggression.

We played with him with both but he wasn't very responsive with toys. He kind of played with us if you know what I mean, as in he would initiate play time often and it was always our hands, rarely our feet.

Length of time varies massively. It's impossible to tell an "average" so I used to rely on his cues, but now that they're gone I have no way of knowing how long his tolerance will last.

There's another cat here, arrived about a year and a half ago or so. They get on fine but don't spend loads of time together. The house and garden are big so both cats kind of have their own "territories".

You are not alone - my cat hates me and attacks me every day , just me 🤔😫

My cat is like this, though sounds like yours does it more often and mine never goes for heads, just arms and legs. I consider it partly my fault as I played rough with him as a baby. He was a very bitey kitten and he never grew out of it. It's usually play but sometimes redirected aggression. He does it a lot in spring, I think because baby mice and birds are being born and it makes him crazy. Last week a cat got in our house and he was very aggro with us for a few days. Have you tried feliway?

Yeah I definitely think part of it is our fault for playing rough with him as a kitten and I don't mind that part, it's mainly the fact that he's stopped showing me any cues before he attacks now. I rarely used to get attacked/bitten/scratched because I knew when to back off but all of that's out the window now.

I haven't tried it but I've heard of it. Does it work in only one room or does the effect last on them?

There you go, its trained into him that it was acceptable to attack you. Nobodys fault, we are only just learning about cat behaviour as a society.

Please look up Jackson Galaxy as he is a successful cat behaviourist. He had many TV series going into peoples homes and helping them with "agressive" cats. It was amazing to watch. You might be able to find something specific that helps you.

Good luck

Your first example sounds like classic ovrrstimulation. I've had 2 cats that do this - you are having a lovely time, all cuddles and purrs and then suddenly your cat attacks you.

Only answer is to always stop the cuddles before you want to.

My cat still does this but has calmed down now she's old (16). She was feral so still has a bit of the wild in her. I worked out she doesn't like to be approached outside her field of vision. She's lost her top fangs so she doesn't cause too much damage. Her nickname is Feral Beryl.

I'd take him to the vet and make sure he's physically ok first. Is he neutered?